A three-legged donkey is believed to be the first in the UK to be fitted with a prosthetic leg.

Tommy’s owner Gary, who owns a farm in Worcester, contacted Dorset Orthopaedic, a provider of human prosthetics based near Ringwood, after growing concerned over the animal’s mobility.

The donkey was born with a deformed front leg, which left him struggling to walk and with a damaged back and shoulder.

The specialists from Dorset created a bespoke prosthetic for Tommy to allow him to walk more comfortably.

The prosthetic is fitted every morning with a hoist that takes Tommy’s weight.

Gary said: “I’d heard about the great work being done by Matt Hughes and his team at Dorset Orthopaedic and thought it might be a challenge they would take on.

“Thankfully with a lot of time and effort Tommy is now back on all fours and enjoying his new found mobility.”

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He added that Tommy is getting so used to his new prosthetic limb that he is starting to want to sleep with it still on.

The donkey also now has a specialist osteopath called Tony Niven who also gives Tommy laser treatment every two weeks to help ease any discomfort and build muscle strength.

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